Carbureter.



No. 688.776. Patented Dec. 10, I905.

C. V. GREENAMYER.

GABBURETER.

[Application filed Dec. 28. 1900.]

(No Model.)

UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE V. GREENAMYER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO WILLIAM H. IIOLABIRD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CARBURETER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 688,776, dated December1901.

Application filed December 28. 1900. $erial No. 41,387. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE V. GREENA- MYER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements inGas-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a gasmachine for the manufacture of gas fromthe by-product produced in the manufacture of compressed gas under thePintsch system. The machine is also adapted for volatilizing gasoleneand other volatile hydrocarbons.

An object of this invent-ion is to producea uniform hydrocarbon vapor ofsuperior heating qualities and to utilize the largest possiblepercentage of the hydrocarbon liquid.

By my invention I am able to produce from liquid hydrocarbons apractically fixed gas of constant quality which will not condense underordinary temperatures and whichwill give and maintain a blue blast-flamewith a light tinge which produces the greatest number of heat units tobe obtained from hydrocarbon gas. I am also able to'volatilize a maximumamount of the hydrocarbon liquid and to reduce the residue to a minimum.In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to avoid any agitation ofthe liquid which is liable to stir 0 up from thebottom of the liquidbody from which the volatile portions are drawn any of the deposit ofresidue which occurs there; but said deposit is to be drawn off fromtime to time through a pipe provided for that pur- 5 pose. It is alsonecessary that the hydrocai" bon liquid be acted upon by the atmosphericair under a comparatively high tension and that it be thereby atomizedin a gas-mixing drum which is kept free from the liquid hy- 40drocarbons, which might interfere with producing a gas of the requiredconstituents.

It is necessary in order to accomplish the desired results that theliquid hydrocarbon shall be drawn very near the bottom of the 5 body ofsuch hydrocarbon from which it is to be drawn and that it be atomized inair under a considerable pressure-say fifteen pounds, more or less-andthat the condensed air under such pressure shall be thoroughly mixedwith the product of the atomizer, but

that the hydrocarbon shall at that stage be in suspension in saidcompressed air to be further attenuated when the mixture is al-' lowedto expand into the open air.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figurelis asectional elevation of my newlyinvented gas machine.Fragments of the gas main and system are also shown with a burnerconnected therewith. Fig. II-is a plan section on line II II, Fig. I.Fig. III isa plan section on line III III, Fig. IV. Fig. IV is avertical section on line IV IV, Fig. III, showing the atomizing-nozzleof the compressedair-supply pipe.

1 indicates a liquid-supply tank.

a indicates in a general way a vaporizing and mixingandliquid-condensing apparatus.

2 indicates the gas-mixing and liquid-condensing drum forming part ofsaid mixing 7o apparatus. 3 indicates a liquid-well below said drum andcommunicating therewith and forming another part of the vaporizing,mixing, and liquid-condensing apparatus.

4: indicates a supply-conduit to allowliquid 7 to flow by gravity fromthe liquid-supply tank to the liquid-well. This supply-conduit iscomposed of three parts I), c, and cl. 5 indicates a supply-regulatingvalve to control the flow through said supply-conduit. The valve 5 islocated between the members I) and c of the pipe 4.

(I indicates a fitting connecting the members c and b and forming-a seatfor the valve 5 to open and close communication between the members I)and c of the conduit at.

6 indicates a fioat-chamber extending upward from the fitting d andcommunicating with the valve passage or seat e and the mouth of themember 0 of the conduit 4. 7 indicates a float in said chamber furnishedwith an air-chamber 8, open at its lower end and operatively connectedwith the supplyvalve 5 to open and close the passage through the conduitas the float 7 falls and rises.

9 indicates a pressure equalizing line or conduit connecting thevalve-chamber with .the upper parts of the liquid-supply tank and thegas-lnixin g drum,respectively. This cond uit consists of the threemembers f, h, and g. too

10 indicates a cock for said pressure-equalizing conduit between the valvechamber G and the gas-mixing-drum connection g.

11 indicates a cock to control the equalizing-conduit between theliquid-supply tank 1 and the gas-miXing-d rum connection g.

2' indicates the gashiain, leading from the top of the gas-mixing drum2.

j indicates an air-supply pipe to deliver compressed air into thevaporizing and mixing apparatus.

In practice it is desirable to employ a plurality of air-supply pipes j,each furnished with a cock 7c and all connected with a sourceofcompressed air (not shown) and from which they can be respectively cutoff by means of said cock 70. In the drawings I have shown a machineprovided with four air supply pipes; but it is to be understood that agreater or less number maybe used in accordance with the requirements ofthe work to be done by the machine. Each of the air-supply pipes j isfurnished with an air-return tube m, closed a the bottom and surroundingthe mouth of the air-inlet pipe and open at its upper end below theliquid-level in the liquidwell to direct the air escaping from the pipe7' upward.

n-indicates an outside casing for the airsupply pipe surrounding theair-return tube at and opening into the iniziing and condensing drumabove the liquid-level of the liquid-- well. The mouths of the casingsextend into and open into the gas-mixing drum 2.

0 indicates a contracted tubular connection between the liquid-well 3and the gasmixing drum 2. The object of the contracted connection is toprevent the air-current from disturbing the liquid in the liquid well.The casings n extend up through the con nection 0, and the lower end 19of the drum slopes downward to the connection, so that any liquid ofcondensation which forms in the mixing-drum 2 will flow back through theconnection 0 into the liquid-well 3.

q indicates a cock for the member I) of the conduit 4.

1" indicates a cock for the member 0 of the conduit 4.

.9 indicates a valved supply-pipe for supplying hydrocarbon liquid tothe supplytank 1.

25 indicates a valved waste-pipe through which to draw off any residuumthat deposits in the liquid-well 3.

' 'Lt indicates asight-glass to indicate thelevel of the liquid in thewell 3.

The upperend of the valve-float 7 is conical, and said valve-float iscylindrical throughout its lower portion and of considerable length, sothat the valve 5 will properly seat.

4) indicates a plug in the fitting d of the couduit 4 to allow access tothe valve 5.

The return-tube m of the compressed-aha supply pipe is fastened to theair-pipe j by pins to, and the return member m is fastened to a bottompiece a: by brazing or otherwise and tapers upward therefrom andterminates in a nozzle around the air-pipe below the liquid-level of thewell. The casing 01 is brazed or otherwise suitably fastened to thebottom piece 11;, which extends laterally from the bottom of theair-return tube. 'g indicates inletholes in the casing 12 below themouth of the return-tube m. The casing tapers upward above the nozzle ofthe return-tube and ends in a nozzle around the pipej.

In practice to start the machine into operation the valve ,2 of pipe t,valve 11 of the conduit 9, and the valves of the air-inlet pipes will beclosed. Then the liquid will be introduced into the tank 1 through thevalved supply-pipe s, after which the valve of said pipe will be closed.The valves 10, q, and 0" being open, one or more of the valves 7.; willbe opened to allow the compressed air to enter the machine, thus fillingthe air-chamber 8 of the valve-float 7 with compressed air at thepressure under which the machine is to be operated. This pressure maybefifteen pounds, more or less, according to the judgment of the attendantand the work to be performed. When the air-chamber 8 has thus beenfilled,

the valve 11 will be opened, thus equalizing the pressure between thesupply-tank and the vaporizing and mixing apparatus. This will allow theliquid to flow from the supply-tank 1 under the force of gravity downinto the liquid-well 3 and through the hole y in the casing until theliquid rises in the well 3 to a height sufficient to lift the valve 7and close the conduit 4.. \Vhen any of the cooks 12 of the gas systemconnected with the main 2' are open to allow the escape of gas, thecompressed air willtlow through the pipe or pipesj and will direct astream of compressed air up through the nozzle formed by the bottompiece so, return-tube m, and easing n, thus tending to create a vacuumat the lower end of the casing. The liquid will flow into the casingthrough the holes y without any agitating action upon the liquid in thewell and will be caught by the air-blast issuing from the nozzle of theair-return tube m and will be blown up through the casing 'n and intothe top of the gas-mixing drum 2 in the form of afine vapor. Any liquidof condensation which may form in the drum will flow back, leaving thecarbureted air or mixed gas in the drum to pass out through the main 2'to the burner 13. Whenthe liquid in the well falls sufiiciently to lowerthe valve-float 7 to open valve 5, a supply of liquid will flow from thetank, 1 and this supply will be regulated by the rise and fall of thevalve-float 7.

It is essential that the valve-float 7 be filled with air at thepressure maintained within the mixing apparatus in order that it will besensitive to the fluctuations of the liquid in the liquid-well. The gasproduced by this machine is of such a perfect character thata rubbertube 14: can be used with perfect safety to conduct the gas totheburner, and there is no danger that the tube will be subchine to beoperated to produce the required gas for the operation of a greater orless number of burners, as may be required.

In practice preferably the compressed-air pipe j will be quarter-inchpipe and the width of the outlet of the nozzle m is preferably aboutone-eighth of an inch around the pipe r5 j-that is to say, the insidediameter of the nozzle of the air-return tube at is preferably aboutone-eighth of an inch larger than the outside diameter of theone-fourth-iuch compressed-air-supply pipe, and the inside diameter ofthe nozzle of the casing 17, is preferably about one-fourth of an inchlarger than the outside diameter of the air-pipej. For this size ofatomizer the holes y at the bottom of the taperingfcasing n will beabout one-fourth inch. Such holes will be sufficient in number and sizeto readily supply the liquid required without producing any strongcurrent in the well. It is to be understood, however, thatI do not limitthe invention to any specific dimensions.

By means of the construction shown the liquid is drawn from the lowerpart of the well and is vaporized without materially disturbing the bodyof liquid in the liquid-well.

The tapering form of the tubem and casing 92 of the atomizer of theair-pipe serves to increase the effective action of said atomizer in theoperation of breaking up and injecting into the drum the volatileliquid.

The quality of the gas produced by the use of a nozzle of givendimensions under a given pressure will remain constant.

As the amount of gas taken from the main increases or decreases itbecomes necessary within certain limits to increase or decrease thesupply of compressed air. This is done by opening or closing one ormoreof the valves it; as occasion requires.

It is to be understood that in the operation of this apparatus thecompressed air will not fully expand until it reaches the open upperends of the pipes m, which open upper ends are inside the gas mixing andvaporizing apparatus, and that liquid which is drawn up from the bottomof the pipes m is not vaporized until such vaporization takes place byreason of the sudden expansion of the compressed air at the upper openends or mouths of the pipes m, respectively, which therefore operate atthat point as atomizers. The incoming air is never in any way releasedinside of the well 3 or below the level in said well, but is alwaysreleased to expand in the vapor within the d rnm,and it expands in closecombination With the liquid which it is carrying, and therefore takes upsaid liquid and produces the required atomization necessary for athorough mixture which will then take place within the drum above thedischargemouths of the ainreturu tubes or atomizers n.

The surface of the liquid within the well remains undisturbed throughoutthe process, and no portion of it is subjected to the action of theexpanding air, and the amount ofliquid which is subjected to suchexpanding air is in direct proportion to the flow of air. Although thereis a slight expansion of the air within the pipe 7t, it is notsufficient to vaporize or atomize the liquid, and the atomizing effectis only produced in the drum 2.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. A gas-machine comprising a liquid-supply tank; a gas-mixing drum; aliquid-well below said drum; a contracted tubular connect-ion betweensaid well and drum and communicating therewith; a supply-conduit toallow liquid to how by gravity from the-liquid-supply tank to theliquid-well; a floatchamber communicating with said conduit; asupply-regulating valve to control the flow through said supply-conduit;a float in said chamber furnished with an air-chamber open at its lowerend and operatively connected with the supply-valve to open and closethe passage through the conduit; a pressureequalizing conduit connectingthe valvechamber with the upper parts of the liquidsupply tank and thegas-mixing drum, respectively; a cock for said pressure-equalizingconduit between the valve-chamber and the gas-mixingdrum connection; acock in said conduit between the liquid-supply tank and gas-mixing-drumconnection; a cock to control the supply-conduit between theliquid-supply tank and the float-valve; a cock to control thesupply-conduit between the floatvalve and the gas-mixing-drumconnection; a gas-main leading from the gas-mixing drum; an air-supplypipe to deliver compressed air into the liquid-well below theliquid-level thereof; an air-return tube closed at the bottom andsurrounding the mouth of the airinlet pipe, and open at its upper endbelow the liquid-level in the liquid-well and an outside casingsurrounding the air-return tube, and opening above said liquid-level todischarge compressed air and liquid from the well into the vapor in thegas-mixing drum, and furnished below said liquid-level with inlets.

2. In a gas-machine, the combination with a vaporizing and mixingapparatus furnished with an atomizer; of a liquid-supply tank; afloat-chamber; a supply-conduit to conduct liquid from the liquid-supplytank to the vaporizing and mixing apparatus, and communieating with thefloat-chamber; an equalizingvalve to control said conduit between thesuppl y-tank and the float-chamber; a float in said float-chamberconnected with the equalizingvalve to operate the same and furnishedwith a downwardly-opening air-chamber; a pressure-equalizing conduitconnecting the float chamber, the liquid-supply tank and the vaporizingand mixing apparatus above the liquid-level within said apparatus; andmeans for introducing compressed air into the vaporizing and mixingapparatus through the atomizer thereof.

3. The combination of a gas vaporizing and mixing apparatus; aliquid-supply tank; a conduit leading from the bottom of theliquidsupply tank to the bottom of the mixing and vaporizing apparatus;an equalizing-valve for controlling the flow through said conduit tomaintain the liquid in the vaporizing and mixing apparatus at aregulated depth; a float to control said valve; a chamber for saidfloat; and a pressure-equalizing conduit communicating between theequalizing-valve float-chamber, the upper part of the vaporizing andmixing apparatus and the upper part of the liquid-supply tank.

4. In a gas-machine, the combination of a liquid-well; a gas-mixingandliquid-condensing drum above the liquidwell and connected therewith;means for maintaining a body of liquid at a practically constant levelin the liquid-well; a compressed-air-supply pipe extending down into theliquid-well and furnished with a return air-tube, the lower end of saidtube being closed and the upper end terminating in a nozzle around saidpipe; and a casing fastened to said return-tube and furnished with inletnear the bottom and extending up above the mouth of the returntube andterminatingin a nozzle around said pipe above the liquid-level of thewell.

5. In a gas-machine, the combination of a compressed-air-supply pipe; anair-return tube fastened to the lower end of said pipe and extending upand terminatin gin a nozzle around said pipe; a bottom piece fastened tosaid return-tube; a casing fastened to said bottom piece and extendingup above the nozzle of the air-return tube and terminating in a nozzlearound said pipe and furnished with perforations near said bottom piece.

6. In a gas-machine, the combination of a supply-tank; a vaporizing andmixing apparatus furnished with a liquid-well and with a gas-drum, andalso furnished with a compressed-air-supply pipe and vaporizing-nozzl e;a conduit leading downward from the lower part of the supply-tank andopening into the lower part of the liquid-well; a valve in said conduitto open and close the same; a float -chamber communicating with saidconduit to receive liquid therefrom and communicating-with the upperpart of the mixing apparatus to receive fluid-pressuretherefrom; and aconduit connecting the upper part of the liquid-supply tank with theinterior of the vaporizing and mixing apparatus.

7. The combination with the vaporizing and mixing apparatus comprisingan atomizing-nozzle; of a supply-tank; a conduit connecting thesupply-tank with the mixing apparatus to supply the same with a volatileliquid; a float-valve for controlling said conduit; a chamber for thefloat of said valve; and an equalizing-conduit communicating between theupper parts of the supply-tank, vaporizing and mixing apparatus andvalvechamber.

8. In a gas-machine, the combination with a compressed-air-supply pipe;of an air-return tube fastened to the lower end of said pipe andtapering upward and terminating in a nozzle around said pipe; a bottompiece fastened to said return-tube and extending outward therefrom; acasing fastened to said bottom piece and tapering upward therefrom to apoint above the nozzle of the air-return tube, and terminating in anozzle around said pipe and furnished with perforations below the levelof the nozzle of the air-return tube. In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, at LosAngeles, California, this 22d day of December, 1900.

O. V. GREENAMYER. Witnesses:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND, F. M. TOWNSEND.

